Show case



J. ROBECK Jan. 2, 1934.

SHOW CASE Filed May 24, 1933 J- Robeck Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATEN oFricE,

3 Claims.

My invention relates to show cases, its primary object being the provision of a show case in which the articles are conveniently displayed and easily accessible.

Another of my objects is the provision of a show case having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined window through which the articles may be viewed in positions normal to the line of sight.

Another of my objects is the provision of a show case with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined window and with the articles displayed on panels which are positioned substantially parallel to the window.

Another of my objects is the provision of a plurality of slidable panels positioned behind a window and in proximity thereto, the panels being arranged for supporting the articles to be displayed.

Another of my objects is the provision of a plurality of independently slidable panels occupying a common projected plane, each panel being provided with a hand hold at its upper extremity for convenience in removing or replacing the panel.

Another of my objects is the provision of a show case having vertically slidable panels and having guideways of a novel form for slidably receiving the panels.

Another of the objects is the provision of a show case having a front window hingedly attached at its lower edge to the show case to give convenient access to all of the articles on display and having a plurality of slidable panels for supporting the articles on display.

Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out in the following description, I will now refer to the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my show case.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the top of the show case, the section being indicated by the broken line 22 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view partly in diagrammatic form.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the forward upper edge of my show case.

The show case is provided with two solid end walls 10 having the general form shown in Figure 1. These end walls are connected by means of a strap 11 at the upper rear edge of the show case. The lower forward edge is similarly provided with a strap 12. The end walls 10 are cut so that their forward edges are upwardly and rearwardly inclined, the inclination being such as to be approximately at right angles to the line of vision of a customer. The entire show case is thus open throughout its front but this opening is closed by means of a window 13 having a rectangular frame which may be braced as at i l, depending on the length of the window. 0 This window is secured by means of hinges 15 to the frame of the show case so that it may be opened to give access to the contents of the show case or to swing the window into convenient position for washing. The show case is also provided with a top closure 16 which seats on the top edge of the show case against slippage, the joint being best shown in section in Figure 4.

In the rear of the window 13 and parallel therewith is a wall 17. This wall braces the show case in a longitudinal direction. The wall is parallel to the window 13. Secured to the wall 17 and extending from top to bottom thereof are metal guideways 18 having the form best shown in Figure 2. These metal guideways are firmly secured to the wall 17 and they are made from sheet metal rolled in any desired length and so formed that the two' parts are complementary. Their outer or forward portions are bent into a common plane where they are clipped together by means of a double channel member 19. This member 19 is preferably chromium plated metal to prevent tarnishing or corroding.

The panels 20 are relatively long and relatively narrow. They are made to slide up and down in the guideways 18. Their forward surfaces are covered with plush 21 or other desired fabric, the purpose being toprovide an attractive and ornamental background forthe goods to be displayed on the panels 20. The position of the panels 20 is such as to leave ample space between the panels and window 13. The goods to be displayed are secured either to the covering 21 or to the panels 20 directly but through the covering. Each panel is provided with a hand hold 22 for convenience in grasping the panel to: lift or to lower a panel. For this purpose the upper edge of the wall 1'? is cut away to facilitate the grasping of the handle 22, the cutaway portion being shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The show case also functions partly as a counter. The space in the rear of the display cabinet is provided with vertical and horizontal braces which not only give the show case added rigidity but also provide supports for a plurality of drawers for the storage of goods, Figure 3 showing in diagrammatic form the arrangement of the drawers 23. These drawers will necessarily increase in length from top to bottom in order to fully utilize the space in the rear of the wall 17.

The drawers 23, however, may be made in any desired width.

My show case is admirably adapted for displaying and dispensing certain kinds of goods. For example, a hardware store will find the show case very convenient for the display of such articles as pliers, wrenches, hand drills and similar tools. The same thing is true in the case of a jewelry store where the watches, rings .and other articles of jewelry may be effectively displayed in their most advantageous position. The customer on entering the store is certain to be attracted to the display because it is in his direct line of vision and where it does not occupy the horizontal position as in most of the show cases in use. Neither is the display in a vertical position but the angle of the display panels is such that the customer will be attracted to the display without conscious or unconscious effort. At the same time the articles on display are safely secured behind the window as it is necessary that the lid 16 be lifted before the panels may be withdrawn. The unauthorized removal of the lid 16 for the withdrawal of articles will cause sufficient disturbance to attract the attention of the other occupants of the .storeroom. If it is desired to gain access simultaneously to all articles on display in the show case, the window maybe swung on its hinges 15 into the dotted line position, as shown in Figure 3. This position of the window also gives access to the inner glass surface of the window whenever it becomes necessary or desirable to wash the window.

The device is truly a show case and occupies the same position relative to the clerk and customer that any other show case does. The lid 16 may serve as a narrow counter. The customer in front of the show case selects the article in which he is interested while the clerk or proprietor of the store behind the counter merely slides out the panel on which the article is secured. A reserve supply of the articles may be stored in the drawers 23 which are readily accessible to the clerk or proprietor of the store. The displayed article need not necessarily be removed from its panel when a sale is made since a duplicate of that article may be stored in the proper drawer 23.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact terms that its construction and operation will be readily understood by others skilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .Patent of the United States is:

1. A show case having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined transverse partition wall, a plurality of panels forward of said wall and parallel thereto, guideways for slidably receiving said panels, said panels terminating at an upper level with said wall, hand holds secured to said panels at the upper rear portions thereof, said partition wall being provided with notches for seating said hand holds, said guideways being secured to said wall and projecting forwardly therefrom, a window forward of said panels and spaced therefrom in proximity and parallel thereto, said show case being provided with an opening at the top thereof for the outward passage of said panels, and a closurefor the top opening of said show case, said closure also functioning in its closing position to prevent the removal of said panels.

2. A show case having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined window, an interior partition parallel to said window and spaced therefrom, a plurality of guideways secured to said partition, a plurality of narrow, elongated panels slidable up and down in a plane parallel to and between said window and said partition, said panels .and said partition terminating at a common upper level and being in close proximity to each other, and means for grasping said-panels, said means projecting rearwardly from the upper rear surface of said panels into the plane of said partition, said partition having cutaway portions in its upper edge for receiving said grasping means.

3. A show case including a vertical rear storage compartment and a front display compartment, a base for supporting said storage compartment on a store room floorand spaced thereabove, a rearwardly and upwardly inclined partition between said two compartments, said display compartment having a floor projecting for-- wardly from said storage compartment in a plane above the floor of the store room, a window for the front of said display compartment and parallel to said partition, a hinged connection between said window and the forward edge of the base of said display compartment, upwardly and downwardly slidable elongated narrow panels in close proximity to said partition, 'guideways secured to said partition for guiding the sliding movements of said panels, and rearwardly projecting handholds at the uper edges of said panels.

JOSEPH ROBECK. 

